[Antiangiogenic therapy of malignant pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma with the view to the recent scientific developments].

Pheochromocytoma is a very rare tumor that stems from chromaffin cells and usually develops in the adrenal glands. Its equivalent, which exists outside of the adrenal glands, is paraganglioma. Approximately 10-26% of pheochromocytoma is malignant, what poses a significant therapeutical problem, as its presence, together with an abundant production of catecholamines, may lead to a number of perilous complications, such as spinal cord oppression or the damage of organs, what is responsible for producing catecholamines.

[Ocular symptoms in rheumatic diseases].

Rheumatic diseases are frequently associated with eye disorders presenting with a wide range of signs and symptoms. Dry eye syndrome, keratitis, uveitis, scleritis and retinal vasculitis are often diagnosed in patients with rheumatic diseases. It is important not to overlook even subtle signs of ocular involvement as it may result in serious complications.

[Actual diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human granulocytic anaplasmosis].

Ixodes ricinus tick is widely known as a reservoir and vector for many dangerous pathogens. One of them is gram-negative bacteria called Anaplasma phagocytophilum, that may cause human granulocytic anaplasmosis (formerly called granulocytic ehrlichiosis). Development of modem diagnostics, which allows the implementation of effective pharmacotherapy, caused that this disease can be effectively detected only for last couple years.

Eplerenone mimics features of the alternative activation in macrophages obtained from patients with heart failure and healthy volunteers.

Alternative activation of macrophages plays protective role in cardiac remodelling in heart failure and the activity of mineralocorticoid receptor may determine the phenotype of these cells. We examined the influence of eplerenone, aldosterone, and IL-4 on descriptors of alternative activation in blood monocytes collected from 19 patients with heart-failure and 20 healthy volunteers. “Heart failure” macrophages in comparison with “healthy” macrophages had increased mineralocorticoid activity, NO and reactive oxygen species production, expression of iNOS mRNA and protein, but decreased expression of arginase I and mannose receptor proteins, and activity of MnSOD and CuZnSOD.